US Treasury Secretary Skips G20 Amid BRICS Tensions, Africa Debt Concerns

The G20 finance summit in Durban, South Africa, is facing significant challenges as U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and other top American officials continue to boycott the event, raising concerns about the group's effectiveness. President Donald Trump has imposed a baseline 10% tariff on all U.S. imports and threatened additional punitive tariffs targeting BRICS countries, complicating relations with eight G20 members, including host South Africa. This trade aggression overshadows South Africa's efforts to focus the summit on debt relief, development, climate finance, and sustainability, priorities of emerging economies. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa publicly pushed back against Trump's tariff threats and rhetoric, emphasizing the growing influence of multiple global power centers. Experts warn that Trump's protectionist policies and absence from key meetings undermine the G20's long-term viability and its foundational goal of fostering a stable, open global economy. The tensions highlight emerging fractures between Western-led institutions and alternative forums like BRICS amid escalating policy uncertainty.